Jerusalem Heartburn

Why Israel should have Jerusalem.

We knew it would come to this. Over the weekend, the Obama administration showed just how radical the shift in U.S. policy toward Israel has been. It has demanded that the Israeli government withdraw the municipal approval of a building project in the Eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The land that houses the old, run-down Shepherd Hotel, which is to be replaced by an apartment building, was lawfully purchased by Jews. No matter: That part of town is seen by Washington as a "settlement."

Today, U.S. officials made it even clearer when they reportedly told both sides that they see no difference between Eastern Jerusalem and rogue settler outposts in the middle of the West Bank. Understandably, the Israeli government has rejected the directive, and some reports suggest that the Israelis may have deliberately leaked the demand, for it plays to Netanyahu's image as standing tall against American pressure.

Washington has a longstanding tradition of doublespeak when dealing with Jerusalem. On the one hand, Obama himself couldn't help but declare his commitment (subsequently retracted) to a unified Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty while campaigning for office -- and he even promised to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv, which is not the capital by any definition of the term, to Jerusalem.

At the same time, he is not the first presidential candidate to make that promise, nor the first one to forget about it when in office, in the process ignoring the express will of Congress. It's those pesky State Department folks, you see, who keep advising successive presidents that now is not the right time. For 60 years, Israel's executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government have found their seat in Jerusalem, and Israel's "closest ally" still keeps its embassy by the beach. At least we Jerusalemites don't have to worry about all those diplomat vehicles taking our precious parking spots. It gets weirder. The United States does not appear to recognize Israeli sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem -- West or East. A federal-court ruling earlier this month underscores the simple fact that any American citizen born in Jerusalem, regardless of where he lives, gets a U.S. passport with the country listed as simply "Jerusalem." U.S. citizens living in Jerusalem cannot get help at the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv; they are directed to the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, which answers directly to Washington, rather than to the embassy.

Again, this stuff has been going on for a long time. It begins with a fundamental attitude on the part of successive American administrations, really dating back to the 1947 UN partition plan putting the city under "universal" governance. The point is, the reasoning goes, we don't fully see the logic in giving Israel full sovereignty of Jerusalem. It's not just about placating the Arabs, although that's a big part of it; it is, after all, a city of international importance. Why should only Israel have it?

So in the interest of fostering a constructive dialogue with an American diplomatic universe that seems to have no interest whatever in Israel's position on the subject, I'd like to toss out a few brief reminders.

1. Israel should have Jerusalem, first of all, because it already does. Jews have been a majority of the city consecutively since the middle of the 19th century. There is no issue here of occupation, of a Jewish minority displacing Palestinians in their land. Over the past century and a half, the city was divided for 19 years by an accident of war, split between Israel and Jordan, neither of which occupations having earned international recognition; and then it was reunited.

Thus was born the infamous and irrelevant "Green Line," something that today exists on maps only. The Jordanians cleansed the eastern city of its Jews and burned down its synagogues. Then the Jews came back in 1967 and gave the city a greater degree of not only economic success but also religious, cultural, and political freedom than it has ever enjoyed under any of the different Muslim, Christian, and pagan regimes that preceded them. Consider, by contrast, the treatment of Jewish holy sites under Palestinian rule: Joseph's Tomb, for example, was immediately set on fire, as were all the synagogues of the Gaza Strip. At the risk of "prejudicing" the outcome of negotiations through the employment of argument, why on earth should it not be Israel's?

2. Israel should have Jerusalem because it is more important to Jews than it is to Muslims (or Christians, or anyone else). This may sound vaguely discriminatory or religionist or unpopularly theological or just unfunny, but the fact is that there is a difference between the "most important" holy city and the "third most important" city that is far more than quantitative. This is the geographical heart of biblical Israel, the focus of its golden age of David and Solomon, the political-messianic-metahistorical dream focus of three millennia of Jewish prayer. This is the heart of everything, and that heart beats not on Herzl Boulevard or Jaffa Road by the Central Bus Station but in Eastern Jerusalem, at the site where the First and Second Temples stood for about a thousand years before the glorious Romans burned them down.

3. Israel should have Jerusalem because there is no practical way to divide the city that would satisfy both sides. Never mind the bizarre MTA-subway-style map that would ensue, intertwining all the Jewish and Arab neighborhoods in the city. The real problem is that Israelis and Palestinians have totally irreconcilable views as to how such a division would work in practice -- a difference so wide as to make the entire endeavor a pipe dream.

Israelis see any separation as similar to the one Israel has with Egypt and Jordan: a full border, with strict crossings and a fundamental divorce of economic life. This is essential to any deal -- the entire idea of giving up land in exchange for peace comes with the heavy baggage of decades of terror attacks. But such a separation, we have been told repeatedly, is anathema to the Palestinians themselves, who rely heavily on Israeli jobs for their living and see any real separation a form of "siege" -- turning their territory into a "prison." (If you don't believe this, ask yourself how the Gazans would react if Israel were to lift the sea and air restrictions on the Strip: Would they say "we are now free" or "we are still under siege"?) This problem is little discussed but will become a deal breaker the moment anyone starts talking seriously about borders or dividing the city.

Jerusalem is not just a consensus issue in Israel but also a deeply personal one. There is no erasing the thousands of years of yearning for Jerusalem in Jewish texts, nor the heart-wrenching failure of Jewish forces to capture East Jerusalem in 1948, nor the national catharsis of its reunification in the Six Day War, nor over four decades of astonishing development and construction and tourism and flourishing of religious life for all faiths since then.

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Visitor Comments: 14

(14)
Vlad Seder,
November 26, 2012 5:32 PM

Misguided puppet

How could anybody seriously believe that Obama, a misguided puppet, might have any serious influence on the destiny of Jerusalem? Please, remember Proverbs (21:1):"Like streams of water, the heart of the king is in the hand of G-d. He directs it anywhere He wishes." It was, it is and it will be G-d's will that Jerusalem belongs to the Jews, and eventually we will have full control over it. Yet, our relationship with Hashem is a brit - a covenant, a contract - it was also Hashem's will that we fulfill His commandments, His Torah. The way of fulfillment of Hashem's will to give us full control of the Land of Israel - Jerusalem included - depends on our fulfillment of Hashem's will expressed to us explicitly - "And it will come to pass that if you continually hearken to My commandments that I command you today - to love Hashem, your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul..." (Shma - Deut. 11:13). No, not the outcome - we will get there eventually, and the Land of Israel will be under our control - yet the process of coming back - how painful or how easy it will be - depends on our fulfillment of our part of the contract. The whole point of this project og the Creation was to create a dwelling place for G-d in our midst - "and I will dwell in them..." - and G-d's will will be done - but HOW we will get there - depends on how well - or how sloppy - we fulfill the part of the task G-d gave to us. Obama does not matter, Palestinian rockets do not matter, political maneuvering does not matter, military actions do not matter - what really matters - our doing of what G-d asked us to do. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of powers" (Zecharia 4:6).

(13)
Sue,
November 11, 2012 9:08 PM

Jerusalem for the Jews

The idea of a divided Jerusalem is not only wrong but ridiculous. I am a Roman Catholic and I believe that the Holy City belongs absolutely and forever to Israel, for ALL our sakes. We should all pray to Hashem that Obama will leave Jerusalem alone and as someone else has said, the Muslims have Medina.

(12)
Anonymous,
August 1, 2009 1:26 AM

a rose is a rose....

Jerusalem belongs to the Jews. Medina belongs to the Muslims. What part of common sense is hard to understand?

(11)
raye,
July 28, 2009 3:53 PM

We are our own worst enemies

If we can allow the disengagement of Gush Katif, the ultimate in illegal, immoral and antisemitic actions that will go down in infamy, we can allow anything it seems. Jerusalem, are you listening?

(10)
Ismael,
July 27, 2009 3:26 AM

Jerusalem belong to Israel

Jerusalem belong to Israel / Jewish people are the owner of Israel, God gave us the Jewish The Holy Land.
The name of Israel means people governed by Hashem. Our Lord, the One, the Kind of the Universe. Israel and everything that is inside of it belong to us "The Jews" and we belong to GOD
People usually forget who become enemy of Israel become enemy of GOD. For sure that is not the best deal!
I am American, but USA goverment will have to think very carefull about this.

(9)
Marilyn Fink,
July 27, 2009 2:14 AM

Obama's betrayal

I felt that I was kicked in the stomach when Obama went against his word. The audacity of supporting a divided Jerusalem. Please let all of us know how to contact the White House, George Mitchell and our congressmen so we can let them know how unjust this policy is. There always is a double standard when in comes to Israel. We can not remain quiet over this betrayal of Israel.

(8)
Bill Josephs,
July 26, 2009 11:56 PM

A Lesson?

Thank you for your article. Consider the actions of our U.S. Presidents since 1948. Orthodox Jews told Truman that he was "put in your mother's belly" to help birth Israel. Eisenhower forbade the Brits to attack Nassar's Egypt during the Suez Crisis and Israel continued. Robert Kennedy sang so sweetly and strongly for Israel that it helped put him in his grave. Johnson helped nuclear development.. Nixon, when everything was topsy-turvey during the Yom Kippur War allowed Alex Hague to ship TOE missiles to save Israel in the 11th hour. Ford was a friend. Reagan a great friend. Bush, Sr. ... eeh; especially James Baker, but papa Bush did not undermine Israel. Clinton postured the handshake between Rabin and Arafat. Israel continued. "W" was a great friend although his war destabilized the area, which made it tougher for Israel. Now there is Obama, who plays his Kibuki Theater with Netanyahu and despite ongoing "diplomatic" posturing, has not commented on our proposals to build on our land in East Jerusalem. It is a delicate balance of kveching and geschrieing, staged to make the Arabs think they are getting their "due," in a Mid-east that's burning from hate-filled Arabs, who need placation.
No U.S President has really harmed Israel except one: Jimmy Carter. Yep, he was able to suppress his genetic predisposition for the good old Southern racism against blacks; but it was sublimated into grandiose, self-righteous narcissism, undermining Israel through his hammer-lock of one of our greatest PMs, Begin, into giving up the Sinai, "or lose your billions in aid." Carter although irrelevant to all but the hard Left is ever the narcissist and good old Southern boy, continuing to pummel Israel.
All said, the motives of all these men were greatly more complicated than just to advance Israel.
Future history is unwritten and I pray every day that Obama will not betray Israel. It hasn't happened yet.

(7)
Ben K,
July 26, 2009 9:58 PM

Some More Reasons

* Only under Israeli rule is freedom of religous rights to access and to live in the area guaranteed
for all religouns
* Currently about 200,000 Jews live there, will the Obama administration force them to be kicked out of their homes?!
*The title deed of Jews predates any current ones. It's open in Genesis and Exodus where G-d gives it as an inheritance to the Children of Israel, as an inheritance to the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Come jon the new Facebook group = Pro Israel Community Monitoring Obama Adminstration

(6)
Wayne,
July 26, 2009 7:58 PM

Jerusalem for the Jews.

Jerusalem in biblical times was the capitol of Judah and Judea, so why is the world up in arms about it being the capitol of modern Judah (the Jewish nation)? The Islamic world is using a fable to make their point that Jerusalem is their third holiest city. Jerusalem is the number one Holy City of the Jews.

(5)
Jeanne Marie Rourke,
July 26, 2009 5:59 PM

You should keep Jerusalem -all of it

I am not Jewish -But firmly believe Jerusalem belongs to Israel. It would be like the United States giving up Washinton D. C. Our Nations'Capitol. Or especially like Boston the bithplace of our natural freedoms'birthplace. Please don't give up any part of Jerusalem.

(4)
rivka,
July 26, 2009 3:37 PM

Why differtiate between Jerusalem ant other territories?

Why make a differtation between Yerushalayim and Yehuda and Shomron: Chevron, Shilo, Shchem are holy cities. Once they, America and Europe, would get us out Shomron ( same gematria as Yerushalyim) they'll start pressure us out of Jerusalem. So let's start not giving in to any pressure yielding even one inch of land of our Holy Country.

(3)
Helen,
July 26, 2009 2:37 PM

Jerusalem

Psalm 122: 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: those who love you will be serene.
It's not complicated when HE, the master of the Universe is in the field and in control of everything.

(2)
joanne,
July 26, 2009 1:00 PM

Jeruslam heartburn

Thank you....I am having trouble articulating WHY Jeruslaem is so sacred to us to my non-Jewish friends. I am hoping your words will help!

(1)
Anonymous,
July 26, 2009 12:57 PM

Thank you for Reprinting this!

I was sure, that Jerusalem belongs to us.
Forever.
But I was not able to explain it so clearly.
All those "reasons" I somehow knew, but
now I see them put in the right order.
And when I think of our enemies (Barack Hussein Obama, I have the personal impression, is one of them,
although with a nice and smiling masc), I remember too,
what Hashem said to Abraham Avinu: "Those, who bless you will be blessed. Those who curse you, will be cursed." I pray, that this will happen soon.

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!